* ActorAllusion: ** Kirito is one to Creator/BrycePapenbrook: he was once a virtual reality gamer named Shugo Kunisaki of ''Manga/DotHackLegendOfTheTwilight'' who happens to have the same problem with the video game system as Kirito. Kirito's Spriggan avatar also looks like Rin Okumura of ''Manga/BlueExorcist'', another character voiced by Bryce Papenbrook.** This is not the first time Creator/CheramiLeigh voiced an ultra-badass ActionGirl [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana who mainly fights with a sword]].** Stephanie Sheh also voiced another adorable [[Manga/KOn Yui]].** Creator/MichelleRuff has voiced a [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann sharpshooter]] before....** Creator/AoiYuuki voices Yuuki in the Japanese version, and the character's personality is similar to another one of Aoi's more well-known roles as [[Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear Hibiki]]. Both are energetic [[GenkiGirl genki girls]] who are always ready for anything and both are [[spoiler: [[IncurableCoughOfDeath inflicted with a condition that will soon kill them]]. Unfortunately, while Hibiki is eventually cured of her condition, Yuuki isn't so lucky...]]*** [[spoiler: Of course, in a parallel universe, Yuuki Konno does begin to come back from the brink...]]** Creator/HirokiYasumoto is known for voicing TheBigGuy. Guess who voices the giant shopkeeper-axeman-bartender?** This is also the second time [[Creator/AyanaTaketatsu Ayacchi]] [[LightNovel/{{Oreimo}} plays a little sister who has a strained relationship with her brother]].** Creator/JohnnyYongBosch has played a [[VideoGame/Persona4 nice guy who turns out to be a despicable person.]]** [[spoiler: During the event of Lost Song, Strea's character somewhat transformed into [[LightNovel/AccelWorld Black Lotus]].]]** Sugou wasn't the first time Creator/ToddHaberkorn voiced [[Manga/SoulEater somebody that sexually harassed]] Creator/CheramiLeigh's character (though in that case, it was played for comedy).** In the Mexican Spanish dub of the ''Ordinal Scale'' movie, IdolSinger Yuna is voiced by Melissa Gedeón, who is also a professional singer as well in her native Mexico. * ApprovalOfGod: Reki Kawahara gave the live-action adaptation of ''Sword Art Online'' his approval when Skydance announced it.* BadExportForYou: The English translation for the Western version of ''Hollow Fragment'' is only slightly better than the Asian version's, meaning there are still [[BlindIdiotTranslation numerous grammatical and spelling errors, some of which are bad to the point where the text may be incomprehensible]]. Fortunately the translation for ''Lost Song'' is much better. And an UpdatedRerelease called ''Hollow Fragment: Re'' was released for the Playstation 4 with [[http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/29/sword-art-online-re-hollow-fragment-to-get-new-english-translation-on-playstation-4 a much improved translation.]]* CelebrityVoiceActor: In the Mexican Spanish dub, Asuna is voiced by the model Alejandra Delint.* DoingItForTheArt: According to his [[http://pastebin.com/5wqHvb5c live commentary for SAO II episode 6]], Reki Kawahara actually traveled to Guam and fired a real anti-materiel rifle to get an idea of how it would feel for [[SmallGirlBigGun Sinon]] to fire such a weapon.* EasterEgg: [=S2E14=]. Kirito's bike has the number plate "ア09-30". Now, which girl in the story has her name start with an ''A'', and is born on the 30th of September? [[labelnote:Answer]]Asuna.[[/labelnote]]* EditedForSyndication: The broadcast version of episode 18 that aired on Toonami has Suguha's FuroScene edited out.* FanNickname: ** ...or rather detractor nicknames:*** "Waifu Art Online", specially the ''Aincrad'' arc (curiously, this is the one of the few nicknames that is not necessarily derogatory).*** "Imoto Art Online" for the ''Fairy Dance'' arc. Also in the mix are "Harem Art Online", and "Incest Art Online".*** The GGO arc (''Sword Art Online II'' for the anime) has been jokingly referred to as "[[MaleGaze Sinon Ass]] Online" for the many unnecessary butt shots of Sinon during the anime, ''especially'' in episode 10.*** "Sword Fart Online" has also been thrown around.** On to the better ones!*** The GGO arc is also been nicknamed Franchise/StarWars Online, on account of Kirito practically being a Jedi and Death Gun being a Vader {{Expy}}.*** [[LightNovel/{{Oreimo}} Kirino]] for Leafa, due to both sharing the same [[Creator/AyanaTaketatsu voice actress]], as well as being the main character's little sister.*** And fans are also calling [[{{GIRL}} GGO Kirito]] as "Kiriko" or "Kirito-chan", of course because he looks like a girl. Kiriko [[AscendedFanon went official]] in the DVD extras for ''II'', as he -- ahem, "she" is called as such in the extras.*** Some fans like to call Klein [[EmbarrassingNickname [=BallsDeep69=]]] after the unfortunate yet hilarious handle he uses in ''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged''.*** [[spoiler: Trollcliff for Kayaba, as Sword Art Online (the game) is just him trapping 10,000 people in cyberspace for crits and giggles. There's also [=AKA=] Kayaba (or [=AKAyaba=] for short) after the reveal of his identity.]]*** [=SoB=] (Son of a Bitch) for Vassago AKA [=PoH=] (Prince of Hell), [[spoiler:simply due to [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown whatever cruel]] [[ColdBloodedTorture acts he tries to]] [[SlashedThroat inflict upon]] our heroes.]]* FlipFlopOfGod: There is a little bit of this regarding whether Kirito and Sachi had romantic feelings for each other or not.* LifeImitatesArt: Shortly after the final episode of the anime's second season aired, in which [[spoiler:the players of ALO gathered to pay tribute to a dying player]], [[http://kotaku.com/ffxiv-community-holds-massive-vigil-for-a-dying-player-1673823454 a similar event happened in]] ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''. Of course, this is also an inversion, as this sort of thing has happened in many [=MMOs=] in the past.* RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor: Sugou is a CorruptCorporateExecutive, a pervy rapist, and a monumental {{Jerkass}}, but his English VA Creator/ToddHaberkorn is a nice person in real life.* NamesTheSame: ** Episodes 5 and 6 feature a character named [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} Grimlock]].** Matsuoka has voiced [[Anime/HanasakuIroha another person named Kirito]] before.* OlderThanTheyThink: Most people starting ''Sword Art Online'' will think the series was inspired by the ''Franchise/DotHack'' series when in reality both series started around the same time in 2002. ''Sword Art Online'' was originally meant as an entry for the Dengeki Novel Prize contest but Reki Kawahara didn't submit it because it exceeded the page limit so he published it as a webnovel under the pseudonym Fumio Kunori. It was only after the popularity of his second novel series ''LightNovel/AccelWorld'' that his publishers convinced him to release ''Sword Art Online'' as an light novel in 2009.* NoDubForYou: Subverted in Latin America: Originally, the Creator/{{Netflix}} version of the series didn't had a dub, mostly because the franchise was originally never popular in that region to even bother with one, but it was recently announced a Mexican Spanish dub of both seasons is in works. On the other hand, this is still played straight with the movie, as Aniplex exploited the LeFilmArtistique [[LoopholeAbuse loophole]] to bring the film sub-only in Mexico, but again this is subverted again, as a dub for the film is confirmed as well.* NoExportForYou: Averted with most of its properties, except for the first [=SAO=] game though it has been included in the second game released overseas and the social network game.* PigeonholedVoiceActor: Ever since her role as Asuna, Creator/HarukaTomatsu has played two other swordswomen with long brown hair: Sayaka Mibu in ''LightNovel/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'' (although she is a kendo practitioner), and Imari Nagakura in ''LightNovel/AbsoluteDuo''.** As of now, Asuna becomes the genderflipped version of Gintoki Sakata of ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'' with his/her wooden sword in Dekobokko arc. Only she had a short white hair and an ample bust.* PlayingAgainstType: Oh hey, it's Creator/ToddHaberkorn! Is he voicing TheHero? ...No. Well, maybe he's voicing the comic relief? ...No, that'd be wrong too. Wait, you mean he's voicing the BastardBoyfriend of Asuna?** Creator/NatsukiHanae as Kyoji Shinkawa. [[spoiler:He's part of Death Gun.]]* RealitySubtext: Creator/CheramiLeigh was coping with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4VtFjpS1WY the death of a family member]] while recording the dub for the ''Mother's Rosario'' arc, giving the performance an unexpected aura of gravitas for her.* RelationshipVoiceActor:** From the Japanese version:*** [[Creator/ToshiyukiToyonaga Keita]], [[Creator/SaoriHayami Sachi]] and [[Creator/TakuyaEguchi Ducker]] are [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE young Flit Asuno, Yurin, and Asemu]].*** [[Creator/TsubasaYonaga Sasamaru]] and [[Creator/KenjiAkabane Tetsuo]] are [[Anime/CardfightVanguard Aichi Sendou and Kenji Mitsusada]].*** Kirito and [[Creator/HarukaTomatsu Asuna]] are [[LightNovel/BodaciousSpacePirates Sandaime and Gruier Serenity]].*** 70 years later, Kirito (Masaki) would fall for Sachi (Miyuki) again… [[LightNovel/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool too bad she has a big brother now]], [[BigBrotherWorship and would prefer nobody else]]. Asuna (Sayaka) attends the same school as Sachi.*** [[Creator/HiroshiKamiya Xexeed]] was a [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam Meister]], while Lisbeth and Asuna were the BridgeBunnies for his team.*** Asuna and Xexeed were also [[VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesII classmates at a military academy]], and Asuna was one of the titular superpowered being. Coincidentally, [[Creator/SoichiroHoshi Death Gun]] was also one of the enemies they fought.** The English dub has a ''lot'' of this:*** [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/KyleHebert Kains and Godfrey]], [[Creator/SarahWilliams Lisbeth]], [[Creator/CristinaValenzuela Alicia]], [[Creator/LaurenLanda Sakuya]], and [[Creator/MarianneMiller Recon]] as [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Kyubey, Madoka Kaname, Tomohisa Kaname, Sayaka Miki, Homura Akemi, Kyoko Sakura, and Kyousuke Kamijou]]. In ''Rebellion'', there's also [[Creator/XantheHuynh Sachi]] as Nagisa Momoe.*** [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/XantheHuynh Sachi]], and [[Creator/AmandaCelineMiller Yulier]] were [[Manga/KOn Ritsu Tainaka, Azusa "Azunyan" Nakano, Yui Hirasawa, Ui Hirasawa, and Satoshi Tainaka and Megumi Sokabe]]. [[Creator/TonyOliver Sigurd]], [[Creator/ErikaHarlacher Sasha]], and [[Creator/ErikKimerer Ducker]] also had a few bit parts here and there.*** [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/JohnnyYongBosch Kyoji]], [[Creator/KirkThornton Klein]], [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/KyleHebert Kains]], [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/AmandaCelineMiller Yulier]], [[Creator/DerekStephenPrince Kibaou]], and [[Creator/CheramiLeigh Asuna]] are also [[Manga/BlueExorcist Rin Okumura, Yukio Okumura, Shiro Fujimoto, Shiemi Moriyama, Ryuuji "Bon" Suguro, Igor Neuhaus, Kuro, Noriko Paku, Yoshikuni, Reiji Shiratori, and Yuri Frederick Egin]].*** [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/MichelleRuff Sinon]], [[Creator/JohnnyYongBosch Kyoji]], [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]], [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/KyleHebert Godfrey]] and [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]] are [[LightNovel/{{Durarara}} Masaomi Kida, Anri Sonohara, Izaya Orihara, Simon Brezhnev, Saki Mikajima, Horada, and Miria Harvent]].*** [[Creator/EricaMendez Yuuki]], [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]], [[Creator/SarahWilliams Lisbeth]], [[Creator/GrantGeorge Xexeed]], [[Creator/MatthewMercer Kikuoka]], [[Creator/KaijiTang Schmidt]], [[Creator/ToddHaberkorn Sugou]], [[Creator/ErikaHarlacher Sasha and Siune]], [[Creator/LauraPost Rosalia]], and [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]] are [[Anime/KillLaKill Ryuko Matoi, Mako Mankanshoku, Ira Gamagoori, Nonon Jakuzure, Uzu Sanageyama, Aikuro Mikisugi, Tsumugu Kinagase, Shiro Iori, Sukuyo Mankanshoku, Ragyo Kiryuin, and Nui Harime]].*** [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/KyleHebert Kains]], [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/ErikKimerer Ducker]], [[Creator/SarahWilliams Lisbeth]], [[Creator/KaijiTang Schmidt]] and [[Creator/ErikaHarlacher Sasha]] are [[Manga/NuraRiseOfTheYokaiClan Yuki-Onna, Aotabo, Kappa, Inugami, Sannokuchi, Akifusa Kekain, and Wakana Nura]].*** [[Creator/ErikKimerer Ducker]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/LucienDodge Keita]], [[Creator/SarahWilliams Lisbeth]], and [[Creator/AmandaCelineMiller Yulier]] are [[LightNovel/AccelWorld Haruyuki, Chiyuri, Takumu, Yuniko, and Megumi]]. If you listen carefully, you can catch [[Creator/KyleHebert Kains and Godfrey]], [[Creator/KaijiTang Schmidt]], Yolko (Natalie Hoover), Diabel (Sean Chiplock) and [[Creator/ErikaHarlacher Sasha]] providing additional voices as well. Bonus points for being based on another Reki Kawahara work, too.*** [[Creator/CheramiLeigh Asuna]], [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/SarahWilliams Lisbeth]], [[Creator/MichelleRuff Sinon]], [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/XantheHuynh Sachi]], [[Creator/AmandaCelineMiller Yulier]], [[Creator/KyleHebert Kains and Godfrey]], [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]], and [[Creator/LauraPost Rosalia]] were once [[VideoGame/{{Neptunia}} Plutia/Iris Heart, Nepgear, Histoire and Abnes, Uni, Nisa, Gust, Falcom, MAGES., CFW Judge, Copypaste, and Arfoire]]. *** [[Creator/CheramiLeigh Asuna]] and [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]] were once [[Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia Liechtenstein and Germany]].*** In a rather dark example, [[Creator/ToddHaberkorn Sugou]] and [[Creator/CheramiLeigh Asuna]] are also [[Manga/FairyTail Natsu and Lucy]], [[Manga/SgtFrog Keroro and Natsumi]], and [[Manga/SoulEater Kid and Patty]].*** [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/CristinaValenzuela Alicia]], [[Creator/SarahWilliams Lisbeth]], [[Creator/LauraPost Rosalia]], [[Creator/LaurenLanda Sakuya]], [[Creator/MichelleRuff Sinon]], and [[Creator/KaijiTang Schmidt]] are [[VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}} Filia, Cerebella, Peacock, Valentine, Squigly, Eliza, and Republican Double]]. In addition, Schmidt, Sasamaru (Bobby Thong), and [[Creator/ErikKimerer Ducker]] also spend time moonlighting as members of the Black Egrets.*** [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/ErikaHarlacher Sasha and Siune]], [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/AmandaCelineMiller Yulier]], Diabel (Sean Chiplock), [[Creator/GrantGeorge Xexeed]], [[Creator/LucienDodge Keita]], and [[Creator/KaijiTang Schmidt]] are also [[VisualNovel/{{Danganronpa}} Makoto Naegi, Kyoko Kirigiri, Aoi Asahina, Toko Fukawa and Junko Enoshima, Kiyotaka Ishimaru, Leon Kuwata, Hifumi Yamada, and Yasuhiro Hagakure]].*** [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/JohnnyYongBosch Kyoji]], [[Creator/KyleHebert Kains and Godfrey]], [[Creator/DerekStephenPrince Kibaou]], Yolko (Natalie Hoover), [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/JulieAnnTaylor Nurse Aki]], and [[Creator/ToddHaberkorn Sugou]] are also [[VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2 Nagito Komaeda, Chiaki Nanami, Hajime Hinata, Kazuichi Souda, Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu, Sonia Nevermind, Nekomaru Nidai, Mikan Tsumiki, Ibuki Mioda, and Teruteru Hanamura]].*** [[Creator/CheramiLeigh Asuna]], [[Creator/MichelleRuff Sinon]], [[Creator/EricaMendez Yuuki]], [[Creator/EricaLindbeck Nori]], and [[Creator/CristinaValenzuela Alicia]] are also [[VideoGame/AbsoluteDespairGirls Komaru Naegi, Jataro Kemuri and Yuta Asahina, Nagisa Shingetsu, Kotoko Utsugi, and Monaka Towa]].*** [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/LaurenLanda Sakuya]], and [[Creator/KaijiTang Schmidt]] are also [[VideoGame/TalesOfGraces Asbel Lhant, Sophie, Little Queen, and Raymond Oswell]].*** [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/KaijiTang Schmidt]], [[Creator/AmandaCelineMiller Yulier]], [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]], [[Creator/ToddHaberkorn Sugou[=/=]Oberon]] and [[Creator/MichelleRuff Sinon]] are [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Henry, Tharja and Kjelle, Owain, Sully and Cherche, Basilio, Male Morgan, Noire and Female Avatar]].*** [[Creator/CheramiLeigh Asuna]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/AmandaCelineMiller Yulier]], [[Creator/CristinaValenzuela Alicia]], [[Creator/EricaMendez Yuuki]], [[Creator/LaurenLanda Sakuya]], [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]], [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]], [[Creator/LucienDodge Keita]], [[Creator/ToddHaberkorn Sugou[=/=]Oberon]], [[Creator/CassandraLee Leafa]], [[Creator/MatthewMercer Seijiro Kikuoka]], [[Creator/LauraPost Rosalia]], [[Creator/MichelleRuff Sinon]], and [[Creator/JohnnyYongBosch Kyoji]] are [[Manga/SailorMoon Minako[=/=]Sailor Venus, Usagi[=/=]Sailor Moon, Makoto[=/=]Sailor Jupiter, Rei[=/=]Sailor Mars, Haruka[=/=]Sailor Uranus, Michiru[=/=]Sailor Neptune, Hotaru[=/=]Sailor Saturn, Kunzite, Zoicite, Jadeite, Calaveras, Prince Demande, Tellu, Luna, and Artemis]].*** [[Creator/XantheHuynh Sachi]], [[Creator/ErikaHarlacher Sasha and Siune]], [[Creator/EricaMendez Yuuki]], [[Creator/SarahWilliams Lisbeth]], and [[Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos Silica]] are [[Anime/YukiYunaIsAHero Yuna Yuki, Mimori Togo, Fu Inubozaki, Karin Miyoshi and Sonoko Nogi]].*** [[Creator/BrycePapenbrook Kirito]], [[Creator/MatthewMercer Seijiro Kikuoka]], [[Creator/LaurenLanda Sakuya]], and [[Creator/PatrickSeitz Agil]] are also [[Manga/AttackOnTitan Eren Jaeger, Levi, Annie Leonhardt, and Keith Shadis]].*** [[Creator/EricaMendez Yuuki]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]] and [[Creator/LauraPost Rosalia]] are [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia Akko, Lotte, and Diana]].*** [[Creator/EricaMendez Yuuki]], [[Creator/StephanieSheh Yui]], [[Creator/LauraPost Rosalia]], [[Creator/EricaLindbeck Nori]], [[Creator/CristinaValenzuela Alicia]] and [[Creator/XantheHuynh Sachi]] are [[Franchise/LoveLive Nico, Cocoro, Nozomi, Eli, Kotori and Hanayo]]*** [[Creator/MichelleRuff Shino Asada]] and [[Creator/JohnnyYongBosch Kyoji Shinkawa]]: Also [[Manga/{{Bleach}} Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki]], [[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya Yuki Nagato and Itsuki Koizumi]], [[Anime/CodeGeass Euphemia li Britannia and Lelouch Lamperouge]], and [[Anime/LastExile Alvis Hamilton and Claus Valca]], as well as the above mentioned [[Manga/SailorMoon Luna and Artemis]].*** [[Creator/YoshitsuguMatsuoka Kirito]], [[Creator/HarukaTomatsu Asuna]], [[Creator/KenjiAkanabe Tetsuo]], [[Creator/TakehitoKoyasu Nobuyuki Sugou]], [[Creator/SaoriHayami Sachi]], [[Creator/NozomiYamamoto Yolko]], [[Creator/ChinatsuAkasaki Lux]], [[Creator/AyanaTaketatsu Sachiko Koshimizu]], [[Creator/DaikiYamashita Jun]] and [[Creator/AyumuMurase Recon]] are, respectively Shouta Mitarai, Ai Hidaka, The Producer, Takao Kuroi, Kaede Takagaki, Rika Jougasaki, Akane Hino, Sachiko Koshimizu, Kirio Nekoyanagi, and Kanon Himeno, respectively, from ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster''.* StarMakingRole: The role of Asuna was this for Creator/CheramiLeigh as an L.A-based voice actress (she previously was already established with her roles at the Texas-based Creator/{{FUNimation}}, such as [[Manga/SoulEater Patty Thompson]], [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana Shana]], and [[Manga/FairyTail Lucy Heartfilia]]).* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to Danielle [=McRae=], [[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=577081022331865&id=257517404288230 she originally was going to voice]] Yulier, but that role was given to Amanda C. Miller instead.* TheWikiRule: Has a wiki [[http://swordartonline.wikia.com/wiki/Sword_Art_Online_Wiki here.]]----